Getting Public Support for Fixed Locations in Downtowns

There are several important preliminary steps towards building support for fixed location valets. The first is building a AAA cycling and pedestrian network that is adequate to navigate most of the area, allowing people to get around safely and conveniently by bike and on foot. This alone will motivate people who know they want to move, but don’t feel safe as a vehicular cyclist. The second step is reducing subsidies for drivers, such as free on-street public parking and overabundant street space dedicated to cars. Politically difficult road diets and car parking removal may be part of these processes. The third step is the creation of a pedestrian-only zone in the downtown area. Pedestrian-only areas are enormously popular (after their implementation) and build support among businesses and the public for more pedestrian and cycling infrastructure.

The most successful valet services in BC are offered in pedestrianized areas connected to broad cycling networks. Whistler Village (home of Whistler Bike Valet) is effectively pedestrianized. The Downtown Bike Valet in Victoria is directly adjacent to Government Street (a multi-block pedestrian area), as well as a large public square with frequent events and a pedestrian-priority shopping street. Pedestrian areas don’t need to be permanent—the Kelowna Bike Valet project is directly linked to the pedestrian area created by their “Meet Me on Bernard” summer street closure.